up front:rented Brian’s jeep for a camping trip in Glacier NP June for 9 days. i think my traveling companion and i did a good job of putting the jeep through its paces; driving highways, dirt/gravel roads, tight turns and narrow spaces.included with the jeep (probably leaving out some stuff):two solid camping chairs, two lightweight sleeping bags, large blanket (big enough to cover two people), full sized pillows, sleeping pads covering the entire tent area, flashlights, lantern, full sized yeti cooler. for our dining pleasure, we had plates, bowls, flatware, yeti cups, a two burner stove, a jet boil burner, a pan and a pot, french press. cleaning supplies were supplied, a collapsible bucket for hauling water and to clean dishes. a first aid kit is included as well. and of course, bear spray.the driving experience:i was expecting the jeep to be more unwieldy and top heavy, but that was not my experience. it was right-sized for the roads in Glacier, particularly the portions that were narrow with tight turns. the jeep sits up a little higher for good viewing, and the tires did a great job eating up the miles that we drove on dirt and gravel potholed roads. i’d suggest not trying to go the speed limit when it’s 70, because it just doesn’t cruise that way. my experience was that it’s happier at topping out at 60/65.setting up/breaking down:it took a little time to set up the tent at the campsite, as i had forgotten about 50% of everything Brian told and showed me about setting up and breaking down the ikamper, but that’s obviously on me. we developed our routine over the coming days, and it became second nature by the third day.sleeping experience:the tent sleeping area could fit three easily, so the two us had plenty of room. the sleeping pad provided plenty of cushion, and having the big blanket over us when nights got down to the mid-30’s was a must.downside (with satisfactory ending):we had an issue with the ikamper portion (the fold up and fold down tent up top) when several of the lateral fasteners loosened and the tent had slid over about 8 inches to the left. i never felt in danger, but it did look a little unnerving after seeing it. we contacted Brian, and he came out to tighten everything up. we cooled our jets over lunch and hung out a lodge during the down time. without hesitation, Brian made it right financially. i appreciated not having to arm wrestle him to come to an understanding that i was happy with. and in general, communication with Brian was good. in general, because Glacier has large swathes where wifi is spotty.takeaway:would recommend the jeep to just about anyone, and deal with Brian in a heartbeat.
